Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” [1 Peter 5:5]

As Peter gives final instructions at the close of his letter, he addresses both old and young, leaders and followers, shepherds and sheep. Leaders should lead out of generosity and not for gain, he warns, because the flock belongs to God. Followers should follow with a teachable spirit. All should wear humility visibly, as if it were clothing. Humility should be like a uniform that God’s people wear.

Humility starts with an acknowledgment of our complete dependence on God. When the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” the answer shows our dependence: “I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” We rely completely on Jesus for our salvation and our very existence. What a relief that it does not depend on our own strength!

That humility should shape how we treat one another. We all belong to God, so we have neither an authority of our own nor a right to profit from other people.

That same ancient catechism draws out the implications of our dependence: “Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”

May we in humility serve God by serving one another!
(STEVEN & DEB KOSTER)

Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? (Hebrews 13:17 – The MESSAGE)

We often fail to realize that one of the very best ways we can make Kingdom leadership better is by being better followers. Kingdom leadership means that leaders will have to answer to God for how they have led. Kingdom citizenship means that we will be held responsible for how we have obeyed and blessed our leaders. What have you done to show your love, respect, and support for your church leaders lately? (PHIL WARE)

THE CHURCH CLOSED
The church is closed during CMCO. If you need to contact the office staff, these are the contact numbers:
Pastor Ashok @ 012 524 0061
Yap Chee Kai @ 012 2360 457
Pelita Chuah @ 016 625 6188
Jane @ 017 622 7226
Cheng It @ 012 915 3640

ADVENT REFLECTION
This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent. There will be an Advent reflection for each of the Advent Sundays besides the usual reflection. Please check the church website for this Advent reflection.

NEXT WEEKEND SERVICE
Speaker : Rev Jerry Eng
Dates : Sat & Sun, Dec 19 & 20, 2020
Sermon Title: Let Us Go To Bethlehem
Scripture Text: Luke 2: 1-21

ONLINE SERVICES
1. Please take note all worship services in December will be online only.
2. Christmas Day online service will belive-streamed at 10am.

SMARTPHONE FOR CHURCH USE
The church has a Digi smartphone with its number @ 016 618 2698. Kindly save this number into your mobile phone index now. This is necessary because when the church office broadcasts (over whatsapp) important church information, you will then receive the messages. Currently the smartphone is switched on during office hours only.

2ND OFFERING & CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Both the 2nd Offering for December and Christmas offering will go towards the Building Fund of Living Hope Methodist Church, Bukit Rimau. You may give your donations during the entire month of December via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

CHRISTMAS GATHERING EVENTS
All CGs and individual families are reminded to observe the physical distancing & other SOPs when planning to invite people over for Christmas events in individual homes. Any violation of the SOPs may result in the authorities taking action against the host and people invited.

APPRECIATION BUT NO FAREWELL MEALS
Pastor Ashok and his family wish to thank all of you who wanted to invite him and his family for farewell meals. He asks to defer these to 2021 only when God willing, the pandemic would have died down.

WEBINAR: WAS WESLEY A CHARISMATIC? (Part 2) RECOVERING APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY
Speaker : Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung
Date : Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Time : 8:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87539932595
Meeting ID: 875 3993 2595
Passcode: Aldersgate

HIRING:
IMPLEMENTATION ADVISERS
EE Malaysia is seeking committed Christians to fill several positions of Implementation Advisers.
Responsibilities:-
To promote EE to churches, encouraging pastors and church leaders to participate in the Leadership clinics and overseeing the rollout of EE programs in those churches.
Closing date: December 31, 2020
Interested email to: eemalaysia@gmail.com

CORPORATE PRAYER MEETINGS
The Zoom Prayer Meetings are as follows:
Tuesdays-Thursdays @ 8-8:30a.m.
Thursdays only @ 9-10:00 p.m.
Kindly ask the church staff for the Zoom link.

ONLINE BANKING
While we acknowledge that many people are affected by the current CMCO situation, we encourage you to continue giving your tithes/offering during this time through online banking, The details are below:

Pledge Payment can be done via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

CHURCH CAMP DATES IN 2022:
(ADVANCED NOTICE)
1. The Church Camp speaker:
Pastor Dr Philip Lyn
2. Dates: May 14-17, 2022
Please keep the dates free in your calendars.

THE CANDLE OF PEACE

One of the hallmarks of the Christmas story is when the angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “Peace on earth,” in Luke 2:14.

Jesus brought about peace, in the most unexpected ways, when He arrived. The Jews, particularly the zealots, wanted a rebellion. They wanted their Savior to overturn the oppressive rule of the Romans and bring about peace in a violent way.

But Jesus had something else in mind. He brings us peace in a number of ways.

First, He gives us inner peace. Because of His work on the cross, we have a chance to receive salvation and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. This grants us an inner peace (John 14:27). Not only do we have the peace that comes from our assurance of salvation, but we also have the peace of mind knowing God will heal this broken world and will come again.

Second, we have peace with others. We put aside our differences (Galatians 3:28), especially with other believers, because we belong to the same family. We have the same purpose: to let others know about the peace of Christ.

The Hebrew word for peace: Shalom, goes far beyond not fighting with others or peace as we know it. Shalom is, in essence, how things are meant to be: a slice of heaven.

The peace of God allows us to look at others through heaven’s eyes and help guide the world to see God’s here and not-yet here Kingdom.

Peace from God, Biblical peace, allows us to trust in God’s promises (Proverbs 3:5), through restful, tranquil faith, despite the dark, scary world around us.

What does the Bible say about Peace?
Not surprisingly, the Bible has a lot to say about peace, as it attributes peace to Jesus Himself: the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

In fact, the word peace appears somewhere between 200-400 times in the Bible.

Biblical peace also:

• Guards our hearts from the devil (Philippians 4:7)
• Brings us joy (Proverbs 12:20)
• Is a blessing from God (Psalm 29:11)
• Assists us during dire circumstances (Isaiah 54:10)

In a scary and violent world, the peace of God grants us a tranquility you cannot find anywhere else and offers a light to others who do not yet know that peace.

Why Does This Matter?
We live in an eye-for-an-eye, revenge culture. We also live in scary times, even if the Covid-19 virus is not around. But the peace of God transcends our circumstances and world. With this, we can be rest assured that Jesus will come and make everything right once more.

Our peace can also stir the curiosity of those who do not believe in Christ. They will see us exercise a spirit of tranquility, faith, and they will want to know the reason for our faith in shaky times.

When they ask, we can have a reason at the ready. “I am not afraid because I have the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.”

What does the truth of Isaiah 7:14 mean for us today? What can we learn from Ahaz and the “sign of Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:1-14?

First, salvation has always been by faith and not by works. Isaiah told Ahaz to trust in the Lord and not his works of political manoeuvring if he wanted to be saved. That principle has never changed. Galatians 2:16: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Second, being religious and having faith aren’t the same thing. Ahaz sounded pious but he lacked faith, so he invited the judgment of God into his life. Coming to church, doing devotionals, and trying to live a basically good life are good things, but they can never make us right with God and can never replace the necessity of simple trust in the Word of God.

Third, decisions made out of fear are almost always bad ones. Ahaz feared people more than he feared God, so his decision-making ability was compromised. Because of fear, he chose what was expedient rather than what was right.

Fourth, the “sign of Immanuel” empowers our evangelism. Matthew begins his Gospel with the promise of God’s presence with us in Christ. He ends his Gospel with Jesus’ promise to be with us as we scatter among the nations to make disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus is with us as we help other people follow Jesus. We’re never alone when doing his work.

Fifth, the truth of “God with us” can create joy or sorrow in our lives, depending on how we’re living. When we’re walking in holiness, “the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him” (Psalm 147:11). When we’re walking in sin, we “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we’ve been sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians. 4:30). Just because God is always with us doesn’t mean that we can do whatever we want. Like any good parent, God is pleased with obedience and displeased with disobedience.

Sixth, Matthew says that God is with us in Christ. The rest of the New Testament teaches us that the “us” in this sentence is the church. This means that the most tangible way that Jesus makes His presence known to the world is through the church. One of the most tangible ways that we experience the presence of God in our lives is when other church members pray for us, speak the truth to us, and encourage us in the Gospel. If Jesus is with us, then He’ll come out of us as we live together in community. Who did you touch last week? Who did you point to Jesus?

Seventh, and finally, “God with us” is the main promise of the Gospel. In Christ, God removes our sin and gives us righteousness so that we can be with Him, and Him with us. In Christ, we’ll still battle loneliness, but we don’t battle it as those who’re alone. God sees our pain, understands what we feel more than anyone else, is ready to listen to us and speak to us, and promises to walk with us through all the narrow and treacherous paths of life.

Because God is with us, we can walk in courage and joy and peace and power. Because God is with us, we don’t have to walk in fear or anxiety or despair or defeat. The Gospel teaches us that Christ is all we need in this world, and all that we truly have. (JOHN SYPERT)

THE CHURCH & CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
The church & church office are closed during CMCO. If you need to contact the office staff, these are the contact numbers:
Pastor Ashok @ 012 524 0061
Yap Chee Kai @ 012 2360 457
Pelita Chuah @ 016 625 6188
Jane @ 017 622 7226
Cheng It @ 012 915 3640

PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Kindly note that Friday, December 11, 2020 is a public holiday.

ADVENT REFLECTION
This Sunday is the second Sunday in Advent. There will be an Advent reflection for each of the Advent Sundays besides the usual reflection. Please check the church website for this Advent reflection.

NEXT WEEKEND SERVICE
Speaker : Rev Ashok Amarasingham
Dates : Sat & Sun, Dec 12 & 13, 2020
Sermon Title: Parting Words [Part One] The High Calling Of A Shepherd Leader Scripture Text: 1 Peter 5: 1-7 & Hebrews 13: 17 (ESV)

2ND OFFERING & CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Both the 2nd Offering for December and Christmas offering will go towards Living Hope Methodist Church, Bukit Rimau. You may give your donations during the entire month of December via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

WEBINAR: WAS WESLEY A CHARISMATIC? (Part 2) RECOVERING APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY
Speaker : Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung
Date : Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Time : 8:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87539932595
Meeting ID: 875 3993 2595
Passcode: Aldersgate

HIRING:
IMPLEMENTATION ADVISERS
EE Malaysia is seeking committed Christians to fill several positions of Implementation Advisers.
Responsibilities:-
To promote EE to churches, encouraging pastors and church leaders to participate in the Leadership clinics and overseeing the rollout of EE programs in those churches.
Closing date: December 31, 2020
Interested email to: eemalaysia@gmail.com

CORPORATE PRAYER MEETINGS
The Zoom Prayer Meetings are as follows:
Tuesdays-Thursdays @ 8:00 a.m.-8:30a.m.
Thursdays only @ 9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

ONLINE BANKING
While we acknowledge that many people are affected by the current CMCO situation, we encourage you to continue giving your tithes/offering during this time through online banking, The details are below:

Pledge Payment can be done via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1